Commission Considers Stricter Rules in Wake of Teacher Arrests

by Rowena Lugtu-Shaddox

fox40

Fail-safes are in place to try and insure the ones who teach our kids are not only qualified, but safe.

California teachers are finger-printed and undergo a background check. But with a flurry of recent teachers arrested, it has many asking, “What else is done to protect our kids?”

Mary Vixie Sandy, the executive director of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, says teachers must pass a preparation program before they are credentialed.

teacher verification

It’s difficult to really ascertain if somebody is a future wrong-doer, or not,” Sandy said. “They get training preparation. That’s their ethical responsiblity to protect the health and safety of children.”

But despite that, look at the arrest of teachers just last week.

Sacramento police arrested a middle school teacher on suspicion of lewd acts with a child.

Two days earlier, Rocklin police arrested a high school teacher for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.

We’ve seen many teachers, a principal and a coach – all booked for alleged sex crimes against kids.

There arrests have the Commission now looking at more training for new teachers and partnerships to prevent misconduct.

“The commission is interested in possibly looking at school board’s associations, the administrator’s association, providing more training for administrators, for school boards, for teachers, about misconduct and ways at which we can do a better job,” Sandy said.

This article was written by Rowena Lugtu-Shaddox  and originally published on fox40